The Ottawa Food Bank (OFB) has been feeding Ottawa’s hungry since 1984 when it was founded in the basement of the former Waller Street police station. Now supporting 140 community programs in the region that provide food to more than 45,000 residents each month, the OFB has become an essential, city-wide service for a diverse range of people struggling to make ends meet. It has also become very proficient at turning necessity into invention over the years.
A case in point is its participation in the Community Harvest Ontario (CHO) program, a collaboration among several food banks across the province and their area farms that is proving to have far-reaching benefits for all involved. Designed to dramatically increase the quantity of fresh, local food available for food bank clients while reducing the carbon footprint associated with their food acquisition, the program is also providing the OFB with empowering engagement opportunities among volunteers, residents and community partners.
In 2011, a Community Foundation grant supported the purchase of new farming equipment in order to increase the efficiency of potato cultivation, including planting and harvesting equipment, potato seed and horticultural tools. Following a successful pilot program in 2010, the yield of fresh produce harvested by the OFB reached over 57,000 pounds in 2011 through a variety of means, including growing projects, farm gleaning, farm donations and Ottawa Farmers’ Market vendor donations.
“With the help of the grant we received from the Ottawa Community Foundation, we were able to significantly increase the yield and benefits of the Community Harvest program,” said Peter Tilley, Executive Director of the OFB. “We were also able to engage a considerable contingent of new volunteers in helping us with the harvest, including six corporate teams, who contributed a cumulative total of over 1,000 manual labour hours to the program.”
Not only is the yield of fresh vegetables steadily increasing through CHO, but the partnerships it is allowing the food bank to foster are helping it to build sustainable sources of fresh, local produce for the future health benefit of its clients. With 12 partner farms now involved, the Ottawa harvest program is also creating a stronger sense of community and building social sustainability, as well as increasing public exposure to local farms and farmers by highlighting the benefits of supporting area producers and their goods.
“This really is a win-win situation for all involved,” said Tilley. “Food Bank clients now have better access to fresh, nutritious produce as part of their regular diet; Ottawa-area farmers have greater exposure to their products among community members; and all of the work we do benefits both the local economy and the environment. We couldn’t be happier with the results so far, and we only expect them to grow each year as the program evolves.”
“Receiving things like carrots and potatoes fresh from the ground is a new experience for us. They are so nutritious and there is such a wide variety. We’ve received carrots, potatoes, corn, and they taste wonderful”. Heather, client, Heron Emergency Food Cupboard (OFB member agency)
“I have been volunteering with the Community Harvest Program over the past two years, and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to get outdoors, breathe in some fresh country air and work hard to bring in the day’s harvest. At the end of the day I can look back and see the fruits of my labour, which only motivates me to do it again.” Dan Kristolaitis, OFB Volunteer
“The Community Harvest Program enables us to offer fresh produce to maximize a well-balanced supply of food. Since 35% of our clients are children, Partage Vanier is very proud to be able to offer these vital food groups for healthier and nutritious diets. Once again, our clients feel fortunate to receive a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.” Sylvie Carriere, Partage Vanier Volunteer Coordinator
For more information about the Ottawa Food Bank and the Community Harvest program, visit www.ottawafoodbank.ca.